Cigarette Filling Machine

ABSTRACT

An electrical cigarette filling machine includes an inlet storage container and an internal device. The electrical cigarette filling machine supports additional accessories. The inlet storage container stores bulk tobacco and provides continual and smooth feeding of tobacco to the electrical cigarette filling machine. The internal device is located in the container. An example of an internal device is a rotating mixer. The internal device prevents tobacco from sticking inside the container and controls the fluent continual supply of tobacco to the electrical cigarette filling machine. The electrical cigarette filling machine may contain one or more feeding systems for simultaneous filling of a plurality of empty cigarettes tubes with tobacco. The machine can include a tip cleaner system for removing excess tobacco from the cigarette tip.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application is a continuation of prior application Ser. No. 13/221,173, filed Aug. 30, 2011, which claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional Application No. 61/378,399, filed Aug. 31, 2010. application Ser. Nos. 13/221,173 and 61/378,399 are hereby incorporated by reference. This application claims the benefit of European Patent Application No. 11179471.5, filed Aug. 31, 2011, which is incorporated by reference.

STATEMENT REGARDING FEDERALLY SPONSORED RESEARCH OR DEVELOPMENT

Not Applicable

THE NAMES OF PARTIES TO A JOINT RESEARCH AGREEMENT

Not Applicable

INCORPORATION-BY-REFERENCE OF MATERIAL SUBMITTED ON A COMPACT DISC

Not Applicable

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention

The field of the invention is devices for filling cigarettes, and more particularly to electrically-powered, portable cigarette filling machines used for filling empty cigarette tubes.

The invention further relates to apparatuses for cleaning a cigarette tip.

2. Description of the Related Art

Cigarette tube filling machines have existed for many years. Most existing machines require feeding the tobacco for each single cigarette. The existing machines still have some major problems such as accumulation of excessive tobacco at the cigarette tip that extends beyond the cigarette tip. The excess tobacco is either removed manually or falls from the cigarette while being used. Another disadvantage of most existing machines is to fill cigarette tubes continuously while preventing overfilling the cigarettes.

BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

An object of the invention is to provide a cigarette filling machine that overcomes the disadvantages of the devices of this general type and of the prior art.

These objects are accomplished by adding storage for bulk tobacco equipped with an internal device that moves the tobacco gently and continuously into the filling system, and by further adding a cleaning tip system that removes excess tobacco extended from the cigarette tip.

The filling machine has also an option for a multi filling system that includes a plurality of (i.e. a few) filling channels configured together in one housing that allow filling of one or more cigarettes at the same time.

Although the invention is described in relationship to specific embodiments, it is nevertheless not intended to limit to the description shown. The storage device with the feeding system inside and the cigarette tip cleaning system may support any existing cigarette filling machine.

The object of the present invention is to provide a portable filling cigarette machine system that includes a tobacco inlet storage container, a feeding system, a density controller, a cigarette tip cleaning system, a collecting drawer, and feeding support grooves. The tobacco inlet storage container includes an internal mixing system to provide a smooth and continual supply of tobacco. The feeding system includes one or more filling systems that operate to fill one or more cigarette tubes simultaneously. The density controller unit controls tobacco density in one or more feeding systems at the same time. The cigarette tip cleaning system removes overfilled tobacco standing out of the cigarette tip from one or more cigarettes in parallel. The collecting drawer collects the removed excess tobacco for reuse. At least one feeding support groove is included. When more than one feeding support groove is included, the feeding support grooves can be aligned in parallel with each other in order to provide easy and safe loading of the cigarette tubes on the hollow bar unit.

The advantage of the present invention is to provide a portable cigarette filling machine that keeps a uniform and continuous flow of tobacco into the empty cigarette tubes. The uniform and continuous flow allows the filling process to continue without the need for filling tobacco as long as the inlet container contains tobacco.

Another advantage of the present invention is to provide a portable cigarette filling machine that automatically cleans the cigarette tip from any excess (i.e. overfills) of tobacco.

A further advantage of the present invention is to provide a portable cigarette filling machine in which the user can control how tightly tobacco is packed into the cigarettes.

A still further advantage of the present invention is to provide a portable cigarette filling machine that is compact and can be easily transported by hand.

And yet another advantage of the present invention is to provide a portable cigarette filling machine with the option of filling a plurality of cigarette tubes in parallel.

And still another advantage of the present invention is to provide a portable cigarette filling machine with a safety mechanism that automatically stops operation of the machine when the tobacco container cap is opened.

The present invention relates to an electrical portable cigarette filling machine. Supporting additional accessories of the machine follow. An inlet storage container stores bulk tobacco and provides continual and smooth feeding of tobacco to the electrical cigarette filling machine. An internal device, for example, a rotating mixer, is located in the container to prevent the tobacco from sticking inside the container and to control the continuous supply of tobacco to the electrical cigarette filling machine. The electrical cigarette filling machine may contain one or more feeding systems for simultaneous, independent, easy, and quick filling of a plurality of empty cigarette tubes with tobacco. The plurality of empty cigarette tubes can be disposed parallel to each other. In addition, the machine can have an optional tip cleaner system for removing excess tobacco from the cigarette tip.

The tobacco is kept inside an inlet storage container covered with a cap to isolate the tobacco from surrounding humidity. The container is equipped with an internal mixing element such as (but not limited to) a rotating spring or rod that ensures a smooth and continuous feed of tobacco to the filling channels, and, from there, to the empty cigarette tubes.

A designated operating control board and indicative LED panel enables activating and deactivating the feeding spring motor. When using the option for filling multiple channels, the designated operating control board allows separate and independent activating and deactivating of each of the filling channels.

A density control knob drives an eccentric shaft and enables control over the tobacco density inside the filled cigarette tubes.

The machine has an option for being equipped with a cleaning tip system that cleans excess tobacco (extending beyond the filled cigarette tube) when a cigarette is overfilled. The excess tobacco is removed from the cigarette tip and collected in a collecting drawer. The collected tobacco is then emptied into the inlet storage container, which is emptied from time to time.

Empty cigarette tubes are placed over the filling channel or channels. Pushing the suitable control button will activate the filling motor. In turn, the motor rotates the feeding spring. The tobacco then will be pushed through the hollow bar into the cigarette tube. Once a cigarette is filled with tobacco, the filling channel is automatically stopped. Then, the cigarette is fed into the tip cleaner system and the overfilled tobacco is removed from the cigarette tip. When removing the excess material, the process is ended, and the cigarette is ready for use.

The excess tobacco removed from the cigarette tip is dropped in to the collecting drawer. The collecting drawer is emptied from time to time. The collected tobacco can be returned to the inlet storage container and the accumulated tobacco can be reused.

A system including all of the above options is hereby described. Nevertheless it should be clear that changes and modifications to the embodiments described or excluding some of the machine elements will be apparent to those skilled in the art. It is, therefore, intended that such changes and modifications or excluded elements be covered by the appended claims.

To complete the understanding of the above mentioned features and advantages of the invention, a detailed description of the machine and drawings is provided wherein additional features and advantages are described below.

With the foregoing and other objects in view there is provided, in accordance with the invention, a cigarette filling machine.

These objects are accomplished by adding storage for bulk tobacco equipped with an internal device that moves the tobacco gently and continuously into the filling system, and by further adding a cleaning tip system that removes excess tobacco extended from the cigarette tip.

The filling machine has also an option for a multi filling system that includes a few filling channels disposed together in one housing allowing filling of one or more cigarettes at the same time.

The object of the present invention is to provide a portable cigarette filling machine that includes a tobacco inlet storage container, a feeding system, a density controller unit, a cigarette tip clearing system, a collecting drawer, and feeding support grooves. The tobacco inlet storage container includes an internal mixing system to provide smooth and continual supply of tobacco. The feeding system includes one or more filling systems that operate simultaneously to fill one or more cigarette tubes. The density controller unit provides the control of tobacco density in one or more feeding systems at the same time. The cigarette tip cleaning system removes overfilled tobacco extending beyond the cigarette tip from one or more cigarettes in the same time. The collecting drawer collects the removed excess tobacco for reuse. One or more feeding support grooves provide easy and safe loading of the cigarette tubes onto the hollow bar unit. Multiple feeding support grooves can be configured to run parallel to each other.

The advantage of the present invention is to provide a portable cigarette filling machine that keeps a uniformed and continuing flow of tobacco into the empty cigarette tubes. The uniformed and continuous flow allows the filling process to continue without the need for filling tobacco as long as inlet container contains tobacco.

Another advantage of the present invention is to provide a portable cigarette filling machine that automatically cleans the cigarette tip from any leftovers of tobacco.

A further advantage of the present invention is to provide a portable cigarette filling machine in which the user can control how tightly tobacco is packed into the cigarettes.

A still further advantage of the present invention is to provide a portable cigarette filling machine that is compact and can be easily transported by hand.

And yet another advantage of the present invention is to provide a portable cigarette filling machine with the option of filling few cigarette tubes simultaneously.

And still another advantage of the present invention is to provide a portable cigarette filling machine with a safety mechanism that automatically stops machine operation when a cap of the tobacco container is opened.

The present invention relates to an electrical portable cigarette filling machine with supporting additional accessories. Examples of accessories follow. An inlet storage container stores bulk tobacco and provides continual and smooth feeding of tobacco to the electrical cigarette filling machine. An internal device located in the container such as a rotating mixer avoid the stacking of tobacco inside the container and controls the fluent continual supply of tobacco to the electrical cigarette filling machine.

Other features that are considered as characteristic for the invention are set forth in the appended claims.

Although the invention is illustrated and described herein as embodied in a cigarette filling machine, the invention should not be limited to the details shown in those embodiments because various modifications and structural changes may be made without departing from the spirit of the invention while remaining within the scope and range of equivalents of the claims.

The construction and method of operation of the invention and additional objects and advantages of the invention is best understood from the following description of specific embodiments when read in connection with the accompanying drawings.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE SEVERAL VIEWS OF THE DRAWING

FIG. 1 is a diagrammatic perspective view of a cigarette filling machine according to the invention.

FIG. 2 is an exploded view of the machine shown in FIG. 1 showing parts that can be disassembled by the user for maintenance.

FIG. 2-1 is an enlarged, partial view of the machine shown in FIG. 1 showing the filling channels and feeding springs.

FIG. 3-A is an enlarged, partial, sectional side view of the machine shown in

FIG. 1 showing an empty cigarette tube.

FIG. 3-B is an enlarged, partial, sectional side view of the machine shown in

FIG. 1 illustrating a loaded cigarette tube.

FIG. 3-C is an enlarged, partial, sectional side view of the machine shown in FIG. 1 showing the cigarette tube after being filled with tobacco and falling into the tip cleaning system device.

FIG. 3-D is an enlarged, partial, sectional side view of the machine shown in FIG. 1 showing the feeding motor connected to the feeding spring and the mixer motor.

FIG. 3-E is an enlarged, partial, sectional side view of the machine shown in FIG. 1 showing the density control unit.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

FIG. 1 shows the cigarette filling device. The machine relates to a portable cigarette rolling machine equipped with optional features to be easily operated and to have continual operation without the need to stop the cigarette rolling process for refilling tobacco to the machine, and to ensure a supply of cigarettes that do not have excess tobacco extending from the cigarette end.

The bulk tobacco is placed into the sealed inlet storage container 15. The inlet sealed storage container 15 includes an internal mixing element that allows continual, smooth, and steady supply of tobacco to the filling channels 2. The tobacco in the filling channel is moved by the feeding spring 11 into the cigarette through the hollow bare tube 43 unit. An empty cigarette tube 4 placed on the supporting groove 50 is pushed gently over the hollow bar tube 43. The tobacco is continually fed by the feeding spring 11 into the cigarette tube 4, pushing the filled part away from the hollow bar 43. An eccentric shaft presses the cigarette shell and prevents it from sliding back to control the density of tobacco pushed into the cigarette shell.

The cigarette filling machine may have one or more filling channels 2 operating in parallel individually.

An additional device that may be used is the tip cleaning system 41. When a cigarette filling up process ends, the cigarette is moved to the cleaning tip unit. The cleaning unit removes the excess tobacco by one of the following methods: vibrating the cigarette by element such as piezoelectric device 104 (see FIG. 3-C) or brushing the cigarette tip and removing the tobacco extending from the cigarette end. The cigarette is now ready for use.

The excess tobacco is collected in drawer 7 located below. When the drawer 7 is filled, the tobacco accumulated is returned to the inlet container, thereby keeping the machine clean and saving tobacco material from waste.

To use the machine, a user should fill up the inlet storage container 15 by opening the cap 29. Opening the cap, or disassembling the inlet tobacco storage from the cigarette filling machine disables the operation of the machine to avoid exposing an operator to moving parts.

The user places the empty cigarette tube on the cigarette supporting groove 50 and pushes it gently onto the hollow bar 43, inserting the cigarette shell over the hollow bar 43.

The on/off knob 25 is pressed to operate the mixer device as shown in FIG. 2.

Pushing buttons 241, 242, 243, 244 located on control panel 24 will start the feeding spring 11 to rotate. Tobacco is pushed through the hollow bar 43 to the empty cigarette tube and fills the cigarette tube. Acentric shaft knob 42 is adjusted to get a required density of tobacco.

The filled cigarette tube 4 is pushed backward and fed into the cleaning tip system 6. A sensor detects the cigarette and stops the feeding spring 11 rotation.

The cleaning system vibrates the cigarette (or brushes the cigarette tip) to remove the excess tobacco from the cigarette tip. The vibration knob adjustment 10 controls the intensity of cleaning device.

The excess tobacco removed from the cigarette tip is collected in the drawer 7. From time to time, the drawer is pulled out and the collected tobacco is returned to the inlet container 15. 

What is claimed is:
 1. A portable cigarette filling machine comprising a housing having an inlet sealed storage container wherein bulk tobacco is filled into the container and kept ready for long and continual use, where tobacco stored is isolated from surrounding humidity conditions.
 2. The portable cigarette filling machine according to claim 1, comprising: an inlet storage container with a mixer element, said mixer element including a spiral spring or rod located in the storage container; said mixer element gently rotating the tobacco stored to secure fluent and constant feeding of the tobacco from the cigarette filling machine.
 3. The portable cigarette filling machine of claim 2, further comprising a control apparatus for controlling speed and direction of rotation of the mixer element.
 4. The portable cigarette filling machine according to claim 1, comprising: a feeding motor; a hollow bar connecting said container to a cigarette tube; a feeding spring rotated by said feeding motor, the feeding spring moving the tobacco in to the cigarette tube through said hollow bar.
 5. The portable cigarette filling machine according to claim 1, further comprising: a plurality of filling tubes for simultaneously filling a plurality of cigarette tubes; and a rotatable eccentric shaft being configured to control a density of tobacco being filled via said plurality of filling tubes, said eccentric shaft pressing each of the cigarette tubes and preventing the cigarette tubes from sliding back.
 6. The portable cigarette filling machine according to claim 1, further comprising a supporting groove guide for easy and smooth mounting of a cigarette tube, said supporting groove guide being located before a hollow bar, said supporting groove guide being configured to support the cigarette tube while the cigarette tube is mounted over the hollow bar.
 7. A tip cleaning system, comprising: a cleaning mechanism pulling excess tobacco from a cigarette; a collecting drawer for receiving the excess tobacco from said cleaning mechanism, said collecting drawer being located below said cleaning mechanism, and at least one of a means for vibrating the cigarette using a rotating motor or a piezoelectric element, a means for brushing a tip of the cigarette, and a means for pulling the excess tobacco from the cigarette tip.
 8. A portable cigarette filling machine, comprising a housing having an inlet and a sealed storage container connected to said inlet, said sealed storage container being configured to hold bulk tobacco and to isolate the tobacco from surrounding humid conditions.
 9. The portable cigarette filling machine according to claim 8, further comprising an internal tobacco feeder located in the storage container, said internal tobacco feeder being configured to rotate the tobacco stored in the container and to secure fluent and constant feeding of the tobacco.
 10. The cigarette filling machine according to claim 9, wherein said internal tobacco feeder includes a spiral spring.
 11. The cigarette filling machine according to claim 9, wherein said internal tobacco feeder includes a spiral rod.
 12. The portable cigarette filling machine of claim 9, further comprising a control apparatus connected to said mixer element, said control apparatus being configured to control at least one of a speed and a direction of said rotation of the mixer element.
 13. The portable cigarette filling machine according to claim 8, further comprising: a hollow bar, said hollow bar being configured to connect to a cigarette tube having an option for one or more filling systems; a motor; and a feeding spring being rotated by said motor, said feeding spring being configured to feed the tobacco from said container into said hollow bar.
 14. The portable cigarette filling machine according to claim 13, further comprising an eccentric shaft being rotatable to control a density of tobacco filled via said filling tube, said eccentric shaft pressing the cigarette tube to said hollow bar for loading and preventing the cigarette tube from sliding away from said hollow bar and controlling the density of tobacco pushed to the cigarette tube.
 15. The cigarette filling machine according to claim 14, further comprising a motor for rotating said eccentric shaft.
 16. The cigarette filling machine according to claim 14, wherein said eccentric shaft rotates manually.
 17. The portable cigarette filling machine according to claim 8, further comprising a supporting groove guide located in front of said hollow bar to support the cigarette tube while mounted over said hollow bar for easy and smooth mounting of empty cigarette tubes.
 18. A tip cleaning system, comprising a pulling mechanism and collecting drawer for collecting excess tobacco cleaned from tip cigarette, said pulling mechanism removing excess tobacco from over filled cigarettes by pulling the excess tobacco from the cigarette and dropping the excess tobacco into said drawer located below said pulling mechanism.
 19. The tip cleaning system according to claim 18, further comprising a rotating motor connected to said pulling mechanism.
 20. The tip cleaning system according to claim 18, further comprising a piezoelectric element connected to said pulling mechanism. 